British Secretary Defends Ira Guerrilla Shootings

March 12, 1988

BELFAST — Defense Secretary George Younger defended British soldiers who shot dead three unarmed IRA guerrillas in Gibraltar as violence over the slayings erupted in Belfast for a fourth night. Younger said on the British

Broadcasting Corp.`s television program ``Question Time`` from Belfast Thursday night that the soldiers challenged the three guerrillas before opening fire on Sunday. ``They were challenged, we understand. If you challenge somebody, in that second they convince you that they are about to kill you, my goodness you have a right to defend yourself and my goodness you always should,`` Younger said. The killing of the guerrillas, who authorities say were plotting a huge car bomb explosion in the British colony, enraged IRA supporters. The Irish government has complained about the alleged lack of any attempt to arrest them. Violence erupted in Roman Catholic areas of Belfast for the fourth straight night Thursday but a press officer at Belfast police headquarters said it was markedly lighter.